The History of Patek Philippe in Five Watches

Patek Philippe iconic advertising campaign. Photo: Patek Philippe

The origin of the Patek Philippe saga started in 1839. The same year, François Czapek and Antoine Patek started making personalized pocket timepieces. Their target market was royalty and other affluent people in society. Patek went to the Exposition Nationale des Produits de L’Industrie in Paris, France, after five years, in 1844. This is where he first met Adrien Philippe.

Philippe was awarded a bronze award at the exhibition for his unique keyless wound and hand-setting technique. In less than a year, Patek and Philippe collaborated to develop the company now known as Patek Philippe. Eventually, in 1845, the pair created their initial pocket piece together utilizing Philippe’s keyless wound and hand-setting mechanism.

They upheld Patek’s business strategy for a few more years while catering to their elite clients. Patek understood that the company had to expand its thinking and enhance its reputation worldwide. As a result, he set off for America in 1851 and joined Tiffany & Co. This collaboration is still thriving today. The brand’s ambitions to increase its global footprint soon paid off. Currently, Patek Philippe holds more than 80 distinct trademarks and is considered among the experts in watch complexities. Learn more about Patek Philippe’s modern history in the following five wristwatches:

1. Patek Philippe Nautilus

Because of their outstanding quality, adaptability, historical tradition, and extreme rarity, the Patek Philippe Nautilus timepieces have won praise from watch enthusiasts. The Nautilus is available in a wide range of colors and has round, octagonal bezels that are inspired by portholes. All of these legendary sports pieces exude a tremendous amount of sophistication and style. Besides, most consider the Patek Philippe Nautilus a game-changer in the world of luxurious timepieces.

The founder of clothing brand ‘Tommy Hilfiger’ and TV-personality Corey Gamble, both wearing the 170 pieces limited Patek Philippe Nautilus ‘Tiffany & Co. 170th Anniversary’ in stainless steel. Photo: Tommy Hilfiger

The Nautilus has become a topic of discussion and remains one of the most sought-after watches in the market since Patek Philippe first introduced the line in 1976. Because of its exceptional value, this high-end sporting collection has maintained its cult legendary reputation over the years and is still in demand.

In addition, the Nautilus has prompted a lot of improvements after its debut, including new casing materials. Currently, a Nautilus is also available in white, yellow, or rose golden casings. Moreover, it includes versions, each of which has its own set of complications. A Patek Philippe Nautilus having a calendar and moon phase feature is easy to spot. The Nautilus also comes in a renowned chronograph feature. Undeniably, the Nautilus is a sporty watch in addition to having additional time zones.

2. Patek Philippe Calatrava

One of Patek Philippe’s top timepieces is the Calatrava. This dress wristwatch exemplifies the beauty and class that define Patek pieces. Calatrava has been a choice of the label for over 80 years. The Calatrava watches are widely considered the best men’s pieces by Patek Philippe.

The Turkish butcher and chef Nusret Gökçe “Salt Bae” is wearing a rare vintage 32mm Patek Philippe Calatrava in 18k yellow gold with a champagne dial color. Nusret:s technique for preparing and seasoning meat became an Internet meme a few years ago and he is today the owner of “Nusr-Et”, a chain of steak houses in different cities around the world. Photo: Nusret Instagram

The brand now includes female customers and is ideal for black-tie occasions. Numerous versions, including two- or three-hand pieces as well as those with a modest seconds dial, are included in the Calatrava line. Additionally, the Swiss timepieces from Patek Philippe come in slim, mechanically wound, or self-winding movements. A Calatrava timepiece featuring a date display is also available.

3. Patek Philippe Aquanaut

This 1997-released Patek Philippe Aquanaut combines technical brilliance with excellent efficiency and artistic design. Despite having many similarities to the Nautilus, it has its style. First off, compared to its inspiration, the Aquanaut has a more contemporary design that is less angular. It is a distinctive addition to the Patek inventory because of the curved octagonal casing. Furthermore, it features a “tropical” band that is UV- and abrasion-resistant in addition to waterproof.

Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic was during his recent vacation in Sweden wearing a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph in stainless steel with a black Arabic dial. The 41 mm wide case features a black Arabic dial, with automatic movement and chronograph functions. This particular model is presented on and orange rubber strap with a Patek logo deployant buckle. Photo: Getty Images

The screw-down crown, which offers additional wrist safety, draws attention to the watch’s casing. Moreover, it has a contemporary layout and a round, octagonal shape. This makes Patek Philippe Aquanaut resilient, hypoallergenic, and even comfy.

4. Patek Philippe Complications

The Patek Philippe Complications is a line that sticks out. The label’s flagship series is recognized for keeping eye-catching classical styles that both veteran and new collectors adore while also prioritizing precision, uniqueness, and longevity above all.

Two entertainers with quite different orientations. Conor McGregor is wearing his 39mm Patek Philippe Calatrava Skeleton Complications in rose gold with a transparent and hand engraved dial. Photo: Conor McGregor

As the title implies, the Patek Philippe Complications line features watches that offer more functionality than just displaying the time and date. The sophisticated intricacies that every piece from this series boasts, from Annual and Weekly Calendars to the label’s trademark World Time indication, render them well worth their cost. It is practically hard not to find one that meets your refined taste, with more than 30 unique and appealing variants to pick from. All of these have at most one to three useful functions.

5. Patek Philippe Grand Complications

The Patek Philippe Grand Complications is one of the company’s most outstanding series and reflects the essence of Haute Horlogerie. The collection, which is known for its intricate designs and astounding creativity, is the source of high-end watches. It provides users with not only the best and most useful service possible but also a chance to distinguish themselves from others. Not to forget, the designs of the timepieces in this line could either represent classical and straightforward features or be lavish in every way. Furthermore, the line perfectly illustrates how mechanical pieces can do more than just indicate the time as well as the day.

Mark Wahlberg wears a platinum Patek Philippe ‘Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater’ featuring a 42 mm case and bezel paved with baguette-cut factory diamonds, and a blue-lacquered dial. The dial flange has been set with diamonds and there are blue sapphires on the hour-markers. Photo: Getty Images

Every Patek Philippe Grand Complexities watch comes with three or even more complications, all of which are attractive and practical. These include tourbillons, perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, as well as chronographs.

Conclusion

A true legend in the watch industry, Patek Philippe is renowned for creating some of the most exquisite and complex manual timepieces available today. Despite being one of the most popular names among illustrious Swiss designers, the brand is still unmatched in regards to the creation of pieces that go above and beyond expectations. Therefore, you should always choose a Patek Philippe if you are a seasoned watch collector or are just getting started. This is because it values dependability and durability while also ensuring that the styles aren’t ever compromised or even lost.